24 hours in pictures

Bangkok, Thailand: Riot police gather together behind a cordon ready to hold back thousands of supporters of the ousted Thai premier, Thaksin Shinawatra Photograph: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Valparaiso, Chile: French downhill rider Cedric Gracia is surrounded by fans after winning the Valparaiso Cerro Abajo 2009 cycling race Photograph: Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images

Kobu, Democratic Republic Of Congo: A gold miner catches an empty pan thrown down a human chain while digging a pit at the Chudja mine Photograph: Finbarr O'reilly/Reuters

Agamon Ha-Hula Lake, Israel: Grey cranes flock over the Hula valley Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Ixcateopan, Mexico: A dancer wearing a deer's head during an Aztec ceremony to celebrate the birth of Cuauhtemoc, the last Aztec emperor Photograph: Eduardo Verdugo/AP

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A young man prays before taking part in a carnival float Photograph: /Reuters

Bangkok, Thailand: A man sleeps next to his dog Photograph: David Longstreath/AP

Hong Kong, China: A man dressed as a slab of beef, advertising a restaurant, stands in the middle of the street in a shopping district Photograph: Bobby Yip/Reuters

Vavuniya, Sri Lanka: A Tamil refugee, fleeing the conflict between Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan army at a temporary refugee camp Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Stedman, USA: Comet Lulin is seen in the early morning sky Photograph: Johnny Horne/AP

Hyderabad, India: A worker dries saris at a factory Photograph: Krishnendu Halder/Reuters

Weinbourg, France: Workers install solar panels on what will be the biggest integrated solar panel roof in the world, at a farm Photograph: Vincent Kessler/Reuters

Bucharest, Romania: Chinese workers warm-up around a fire beside their improvised camp outside the Chinese embassy. They are petitioning for repatriation after non-payment by their local employers Photograph: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images